NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State officially introduced former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick as its new head football coach on Monday.
Vick and the school agreed to a deal last week. For Vick, his first head coaching job signals a return to his roots as he grew up only 30 minutes away from the university.
“God has blessed me to do some amazing things in my life, and working for Fox Sports was definitely one of the pinnacles of my career. And you know, it was tough to walk away from that, but this is where I want to be,” Vick said to the crowd in attendance, including former NBA players Allen Iverson and Tony Brothers who also grew up in the area.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Vick said he had spoken to his high school coach recently about wanting to go into the coaching field. Then, he was approached about the Spartans coaching vacancy around three weeks ago.
He didn’t expect to line up a job so soon. But Vick said he couldn’t take the job until he spoke to his wife who was out of the country.
“It wasn’t the easiest decision to make,” he said. “I have family that I sincerely care about, that I love, and this requires a change in lifestyle ... but at the same time it allows me to serve the young men in my community. Creating a new culture in my backyard was really the deciding factor.”
Norfolk State Athletic Director Melody Webb said Vick’s dedication to his Virginia roots and his success in the NFL will inspire the players.
“Michael’s legacy includes not only his athletic achievements, but also his ability to inspire and overcome challenges. His journey is one of resilience, redemption and unwavering commitment to growth, qualities that align perfectly with the values we aim to instill in our student athletes,” she said.
Norfolk State’s first game in the Vick era will be on Aug. 28, 2025 against Towson.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Michael Vick accepts Norfolk State head coach job, latest former NFL star to coach at an HBCU
- Penix Jr. wins debut as Atlanta QB
- PHOTOS: Michael Penix Jr. era begins in Atlanta
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2024 Cox Media Group
